Missouri announced more than a week ago that its final regular season home football game, against Texas A&M, was sold out.
That was before the Tigers went on the road last Saturday and beat Ole Miss 24-10 for their 10th victory of this remarkable season.
But here we are now, at the final Saturday of November, and Gary Pinkel's squad controls its own destiny. A win against A&M and the Tigers claim sole possession of the Southeastern Conference's East Division and advance to the SEC championship game the following Saturday against either top-ranked Alabama or No. 4 Auburn.
"I wished we got help, and it was over about four weeks ago," Pinkel told reporters at the team's media session Monday. "We talked about it in the beginning on how it's about us. It's all about us. That has kind of been the theme we've had this whole year. We got into November and we are 10-1 with one game left and our players get what it takes and it's still about playing well."
Here are three things to watch as No. 5 Missouri (10-1, 6-1) hosts No. 21 Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3) Saturday night at Memorial Stadium:
JOHNNY FOOTBALL
Yeah, right, like we could start anywhere else.
Texas A&M is sixth among FBS schools in points per game (45.6) and passing yards per game (365.1) and there's one main reason -- redshirt sophomore quarterback and 2012Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.
"He is a playmaker," Missouri quarterback James Franklin said. "He will scramble around and he will see someone downfield and make some good throws. He has had some good runs. He is just explosive in every play, and you don't know what is going to happen." Johnny Football has passed for 3,537 yards, with 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and has run for 665 yards and eight more scores. He is averaging 382 total yards and 3.6 total touchdowns per game.
"He's a great player, we all know that," Pinkel said. "I don't know if you ever truly stop him. LSU did a good job, though. Everybody will say do exactly what LSU did. I don't think every team and every player is perfect all the time. He's such a great player. If you watch him game in and game out, then you see the consistency on how he plays and the way he does it." Johnny Football will be the first reigning Heisman winner to play on Faurot Field since Oklahoma running back Billy Sims in 1979. Defending him won't be easy. LSU had success last year and last week -- the LSU Tigers held the Aggies to 299 total yards of offense in a 34-10 win -- by mostly keeping the quarterback in the pocket and being able to pressure him with pass rushers. Texas A&M fell behind early and rushed for just 75 yards against LSU. Manziel accounted for 54 of those, with Ben Malena rushing for 11 yards on three carries and Trey Williams gaining 10 yards on three runs. The Aggies are averaging 5.2 yards per carry for the season. If Missouri can make Texas A&M one-dimensional, either with its defense or its offense scoring points, the Tigers will be able to focus more on slowing down Johnny Football. MIZZOU DEFENSE IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Tigers are allowing 19.3 points per game, which ranks 15th among FBS schools, and have allowed just 30 points combined in its last three games against Tennessee, Kentucky and Ole Miss.
"They've really improved from last year, obviously, and statistically lead the league in sacks," Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin told reporters. "They lead the league in interceptions, too, which is an underrated stat. It's a big statistic to say that your team leads the league in sacks and interceptions. Missouri is using all their pieces very well right now."
Missouri has recorded 26 turnovers on the season but had only one in each of the past two games after producing four against Georgia and three apiece against Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. The Tigers' 18 interceptions lead the SEC -- Texas A&M and Vanderbilt are tied for next best with 15 -- and are tied for 10th nationally. Cornerback Randy Ponder snagged an interception against Ole Miss to extend the team's NCAA-leading turnover streak to 41 games. Missouri should have the personnel up front to defend Manziel, with its talented group of defensive ends: Michael Sam (37 tackles, 10 sacks), Kony Ealy (28 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks), Markus Golden (44 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks) and Shane Ray (33 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks). Mizzou could use more three- or four-defensive end fronts in passing situations. The Tigers also could opt to use a linebacker such as Kentrell Brothers (51 tackles, one sack) or Donovan Bonner (45 tackles, one sack) to spy on Manziel and make sure the quarterback doesn't break contain and run free downfield. DON'T FORGET ABOUT EVANS Another big challenge for Missouri will be defending A&M wide receiver Mike Evans, a 6-foot-5, 225-pounder who has 61 catches and leads the SEC with 1,314 yards receiving and 12 touchdown catches. Evans, who had 82 catches for 1,105 yards and five touchdowns a year ago, has had some monster games this fall. The redshirt junior has topped 115 yards receiving in five of A&M's 11 games and has been at his best against the Aggies' toughest opponents. Evans had seven catches for 279 yards and a touchdown against Alabama and was even better against Auburn, catching 11 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns. This matchup could give Missouri cornerback E.J. Gaines a chance to show the rest of college football -- as well as NFL scouts -- what he's made of. The Missouri secondary should be tested all night. In addition to Evans, A&M has other capable receivers in Derel Walker (41 catches for 645 yards and three TDs), Malcome Kennedy (55 catches for 606 yards and seven TDs) and Travis Labhart (37 catches for 469 yards and five TDs). You can follow Nate Latsch on Twitter (@natelatsch) or email him at natelatsch@gmail.com.
